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'Tomb Raider' reboot tense, satisfying

Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
03/10/2013 08:49:57 AM EDT

Reshaping one the world's most popular video game characters is no simple task.

For more than a decade, the name Lara Croft has been synonymous with perfection -- a fearless, unstoppable treasure-hunter who laughs in the face of danger. This time, however, developer Crystal Dynamics sets the superhero persona aside, opting instead to tell the origin story of a young, untested Croft in "Tomb Raider" ($60; PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360), a reboot of the long-running franchise.

Crystal Dynamics' vision is both beautiful and terrifying. After a sudden storm shipwrecks her documentary crew, Lara endures unspeakable hardships that test her will to survive. Along the way she suffers gruesome injuries and agonizing losses, and uncovers a murderous cult that calls the island home.

These events facilitate Lara's progression from a character immobilized by fear and doubt to a confident, unflinching heroine. It's an emotionally exhausting ride with almost-unbearable tension that steadily builds throughout the story, yet the payoff is exquisite. The moment when Lara's determination takes over, when she turns on her tormentors and becomes the pursuer, is incredibly empowering.

Players aren't given a chance to catch their breath as the story leaps from one explosive set piece to the next. One false step is all it takes to send Lara to a horrific fate. These moments are accompanied by graphic scenes of Lara meeting her demise - reinforcing the story's tone of grim desperation.

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Lara's riveting journey is aided by impressive controls and a variety of entertaining tasks. One moment, she's scaling a snow-covered radio tower, leaping from ledge to ledge while the camera pans to show a breathtaking view from her dizzying perch. Soon after, she's locked in combat with a group of ruthless cult members, trading gunfire and ducking behind cover.

Lara can also deviate from the main campaign to explore tombs hidden throughout the island. None of these puzzles are difficult enough to leave you stuck for long, but there's enough challenge to make their completion a satisfying pursuit.

Also admirable is a progression system that lets players choose new skills and equipment to suit their preferred style of play. Survival skills yield extra resources and climbing bonuses; Hunter skills increase Lara's aptitude with weapons and allow her to carry more ammunition; and Brawler skills make her a deadly close-quarters fighter, capable of dodging and delivering finishing blows to even the most powerful enemies.

Weapons are also customizable to fit any taste, as salvage gathered from fallen enemies and hidden crates can be used to purchase upgrades. A shotgun equipped with incendiary ammo is ideal for brutal combat, and a rifle with a grenade-launcher attachment can make short work of armored foes. Players who prefer stealth, meanwhile, can focus on improving the bow for long-range kills and silent takedowns.

Players can fast-travel between all campsites they've visited, making it easy to return to an earlier part of the story to gain more experience or use new equipment to hunt down treasures. Several types of collectables litter the island, adding plenty of replay value to the roughly 15-hour main story.

"Tomb Raider" also offers a handful of multiplayer modes, from standard Team Deathmatch and Free For All to objective-based games. None of it comes close to matching the level of excellence set by the single-player campaign. It's briefly amusing to experiment with different loadouts and compete online, but there are far more entertaining multiplayer offerings elsewhere.

The lackluster online play does little to detract from the game's overall greatness. Crystal Dynamics has taken one of gaming's most recognizable characters and reintroduced her as a gripping, emotionally complex protagonist. "Tomb Raider" is one of the best adventure games to come along in quite some time, and I can't wait to see where the franchise is headed next.

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